Nutrition Information

Nutrition Fact Sheet

Sustenance

  • Breadfruit contains about 480 calories per lb
  • at 250 lbs per tree, and 25×25 ft spacing (69 trees per acre), we’ll see 20,700 lbs per acre, or 8.3 million calories per acre. Divided by 876,000, the number of calories someone might eat in 1 year, we can see that 1 acre of breadfruit will supply around 9.5 people-years worth of calories. 1-3 trees could supply the carbohydrates requirements for 1 adult human, depending on that person’s dietary preferences.
  • In comparison, potatoes yield 6m calories per acre, chestnuts 2.3m calories per acre, and monocropped conventional corn 15m calories per acre.

Nutrition Composition

Breadfruit is predominantly a starch: a source of carbohydrate. However, when compared to rice, it has more fiber, and versus potatoes: more protein. It’s calorie dense, in a good way, in that yields sustenance, though it provides micronutrients in addition to just carbohydrate.

  • High in lutein and beta carotene: great for vision, heart health, anti-inflammatory.
  • It’s basically a carbohydrate with antioxidants built in. It’s as satiating as a potato, and as nutritious as a carrot (this is not empirical).

ʻUlu Maturity Stages: Different uses at different times.

  • The glycemic index (GI) if the fruit changes, based on maturity: it’s a spectrum from potato to banana.
  • “Baby” ulu can be used for pickling. Tates like an artichoke heart.
  • Mature: used like a potato. Steam it, fry it, mash it.
  • Ripe: Sweet & fruity. Softer texture. Sweet potato, or pumpkin.
  • The skin has most of the nutrients. Adds flavor and texture.

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